The Boxing Day strike action by drivers on the London Underground was the only
piece of Christmas cheer for Sam Allardyce. It means that West Ham United’s
game away to Arsenal has been postponed — a relief for a manager who is too
scared of training his players in case they pick up injuries.

“I haven’t got a team to play Arsenal, so it’s worked out all right in the
end,” Allardyce said. “We’ll come in on Monday, count up the bodies, do no
training and go out and see how packed the medical room is.”